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Lavender companion · grow guide
Bleeding Heart · Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Plant in part shade in rich, moist, well-drained soil. It blooms in spring and then usually dies back by midsummer. That's normal dormancy, not death.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part shadeLight
Moderate waterAverage drainage
pH 6.0–8.0Soil
Zones 3a–9bHardiness
24″ tall36″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Toxic to petsPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Gold Heart will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–9b
Early spring or early fall.
Your year with Gold Heart
When it arrives
20-cell plugs are well rooted and can go straight into the garden after frost; 72-cell plugs are best potted into 4-inch pots for 3–5 weeks first. Harden off a week, plant with the plug top level with the soil, and water in well.
Early spring or early fall.
Plant the root with its pink buds (eyes) 1–2 inches below the soil surface.
24–36 inches; mature clumps get large.
Humus-rich loam · pH 6.0–8.0
Fix-it tip: Work in compost or leaf mold. It hates wet winter soil and dry summer soil, so avoid heavy clay low spots and very sandy beds.
Part shade (tolerates full shade; morning sun in cool areas).
More sun means earlier summer dormancy.
Don’t give up on it
Reddish shoots appear early, often April in Michigan, and bloom in May. By midsummer leaves often yellow and vanish. The roots are fine and will return next spring. Mark the spot.
Peak bloom; keep moist.
Expect dormancy; cut back and mark.
Plant or divide.
No care needed.
First season: Keep evenly moist through the first spring and summer.
After that: Water in dry spells to keep foliage longer into summer.
Compost in spring. Avoid heavy feeding.
Remove spent flower stems if you like. Cut yellowed leaves back to the ground once they fade.
Rarely needed. Can be divided carefully in early spring or fall after 5+ years.
Very hardy, to about zone 3. No protection needed.
Goes dormant in heat; steady moisture and shade extend its season.
Leaves yellow and disappear in JulyLikely cause: Normal summer dormancy
What to do: Cut back and mark the spot; it returns next spring.
Plant gone by early summer the first yearLikely cause: Early dormancy from dry soil or sun
What to do: Keep watering the area; it should return in spring.
Doesn't come back in springLikely cause: Crown rot from wet winter soil
What to do: Plant future roots in better-drained, humus-rich soil.
Holes in leavesLikely cause: Slugs
What to do: Use slug traps or bait safe for pets.
Early yellowing in spring heat means too dry. A soggy, rotted crown means too wet.
All parts contain alkaloids that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, trembling or seizures in dogs and cats (NC State). Sap can irritate skin; wear gloves.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Possible, with care · 3 gallon+
Fine for a spring show in a large pot in shade; plant it in the ground for long-term life.
Outdoor plant
Needs a cold winter dormancy.
Needs a cold winter
Needs a winter cold period to bloom.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 3 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Grow it in a shady, moist bed. It needs the opposite conditions of lavender's dry, full-sun spot.
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